Volume IV Part 3 (1/2)

Madairls, whom she kneell, and Le Duc stood behind her chair all the ti's chamberlain When we had nearly finished dinner Mdlle Ro- ht the gloves I had purchased from them Mdlle Roman praised the quality of the ed leave of the aunt to give her and her niece a dozen pair apiece I obtained this favour, and I then gave Madah an unbeliever he was forced to admire, as all the deductions were taken naturally from the position of the heavenly bodies at the instant of his daughter's birth We spent a couple of hours in talking about astrology, and the sa at quadrille, and then we took a walk in the garden, where I was politely left to enjoy the society of the fair Roue, turned solely on the profound impression she had made on oodness, the purity of o down to the grave the most hapless of men

”Sir,” said she, at last, ”if e I do not deny that I should be happy to find a husband like you”

I was e her hand I covered it with fiery kisses, saying passionately that I hoped she would not letShe turned her head to look for her aunt It was getting dark, and she seeently with her, and on rejoining the other guests we returned to the dining-room, where I made a save her daughter and niece, whose pockets were elard directed their play so well that e left off to go to supper I had the pleasure of seeing that each of the three ladies had o or three louis

We sat at table till ht A cold wind froarden Madame Morin overwhelave each ofin the kitchen, and on going in I found Le Duc in a high state of excitement and very drunk As soon as he saw ravity, and fell right under the kitchen table He was carried away to bed

I thought this accident favourable to ht have succeeded if the three Graces had not all been there

Love only laughs when two are present, and thus it is that the ancient y tells no story of the loves of the Graces, ere always together I had not yet found an opportunity of getting eneral attack, which ht have lost me the confidence of each one Rose, I saas openly jealous of her cousin, as she kept a keen look-out after her er, and anger goes a long way When I was in bed I sent the, Rose came in by herself to ask me for a cake of chocolate, for, as she said, Le Duc was now ill in real earnest She broughtso I took her hand and shewed her hoell I loved her She was offended, drew back her hand sharply, and left the roo me a piece of lace I had torn away inme if she should ivewith desire I took her hand again, and it was just on the spot when the cousin ca for ed if she would mend it when she had time, and with this she went out

I was troubled by this succession of disasters, and thought that the cousin would not play iven ed her to give ently drew her hand towards me Her mouth fastened to mine, and her hand, which she left to entleness of a lamb, was already in ained our composure in a moment, but I was furious at heart I scowled at Rose, and I had a right to do so after the manner in which she had repulsed h the chocolate was excellent, I pronounced it badlyon ot up I would not let her shave me; I shaved myself, which seemed to humiliate her, and then Manon did my hair Rose and the cousin then went out, as if to ether, but it was easy to see that Rose was less angry with her sister than her cousin

As Manon was finishi+ng lard came in As soon as ere alone, the officer, as a man of honour and of y and the occult sciences, said that he thoughtrather melancholy, and that if my sadness had any connection with the fair Roman, he warned me to think no e I replied that to put an end to all difficulties I had decided on leaving Grenoble in a few days We dined together and we then called on Madame Morin, e found her fair niece

Mada welcoraciously that I was ehed, the niece blushed, and then slipping into my hand a little piece of paper made her escape I read on the paper the year, day, Hour, and uessed what shewith her before I had drawn up her horoscope My resolve was soon taken to profit by this circumstance, and I told her that I would tell her whether I could oblige her or not next day, if she would co

She looked at her aunt and my invitation was accepted

Just then the servant announced ”The Russian Gentlehtly marked with the small-pox, and dressed as a traveller He accosted Madarace, elcolance, and did not say a word to the nieces In the evening M Morin caave him a small phial full of a white liquid, and then o, but he was kept to supper

At table the conversation ran on this marvellous liquid of his M Morin toldman of a bruise fro it with the liquid He saidof his own invention, and he talked a good deal about chelard As my attention was taken up by the fair Mdlle Roman I could not take part in their conversation;day absorbed all lard he told me that nobody kneho the Russian was, and that he was nevertheless received everywhere

”Has he a carriage and servants?”

”He has nothing, no servants and no money”

”Where did he come from?”

”Fro has he been here?”

”For the last fortnight He visits, but asks for nothing”

”How does he live?”

”On credit at the inn; he is supposed to be waiting for his carriage and servants”

”He is probably a vagabond”

”He does not look like one, as you saw for yourself, and his diamonds contradict that hypothesis”